What is In Flood Water?

10/24/2017 (Permalink)

We have plenty of equipment to help dry out your home after a storm!

Not all water damages are the same. Many of our friends in DuPage County have found that out after recent flooding in our area. The cleanup caused by recent flooding is much different than say a burst pipe you may have experienced in the past. In this blog we will look at the different water types.

What we call “clean” water when referring to water damage is water from a broken supply line or a leaky faucet. Clean water is pretty self-explanatory; it comes from a clean source. Rain water CAN be considered clean water if it is an isolated incident not related to wide spread flooding.

The second type of water is “grey” water. Grey water is slightly contaminated water. A good example of grey water is drain from a dishwasher. Keep in mind that water types can change. Clean water left too long without cleanup becomes grey water as bacteria and other contaminates can begin to grow.

The final classification is “black” water. Black water is highly contaminated as it is the result of encountering sewage, chemicals, or harmful bacteria. Examples include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

SERVPRO of Downers Grove / Oak Brook always recommends you leave water damage cleanup to the professionals.  The type of water determines our protocol for proper cleanup.

If you have experienced flooding please give us a call at (630) 573-4290.